The Financial Times reported that Russia’s new intermediate-range ballistic missile, the Oreshnik, was developed using advanced manufacturing equipment from Western companies despite sanctions. The missile, launched at Ukraine on Nov. 21, was said to be a response to Ukraine’s use of American and British weapons penetrating deeper into Russia. The Moscow Institute for Thermal Technology and Sozvezdie were named by Ukrainian intelligence as developers of the Oreshnik, posting job listings in 2024 specifying the need for expertise in operating German and Japanese metalworking systems. Despite sanctions, at least $3 million worth of Heidenhain components were shipped into Russia in 2024. Defense expert Fabian Hoffmann suggested the Oreshnik is a modification of the RS-26 Rubezh missile. While Putin announced plans for mass production of the Oreshnik, a U.S. official stated that Russia likely only possesses a small number of these experimental missiles. The reliance on Western machinery indicates vulnerabilities in Russia’s defense industry under ongoing sanctions aimed to limit its military capabilities.
Additionally, Seoul confirmed the capture of a wounded North Korean soldier in Kursk Oblast by Ukrainian forces, following a report from Ukraine’s Militarnyi news outlet. The capture was not dated in the report. Tim Zadorozhnyy, news editor at The Kyiv Independent, provided insights into these developments, bringing attention to the regional dynamics at play.
Source
Photo credit kyivindependent.com